Tax Evasion Lawyers in Bluefield

Tax evasion is a crime in West Virginia. Tax evasion involves willfully failing to pay one's taxes.

One of the most common prevalent tactics of tax evaders in Bluefield, West Virginia is to attempt to make it appear to an outside observer that their tax liability is lower than it truly is, such as by concealing income, fraudulently transferring property, and others.

You should not confuse "tax evasion" with "tax avoidance." Tax evasion is illegal, and involves deliberately failing to pay one's taxes which they lawfully owe. Tax avoidance, on the other hand, is legal, and involves utilizing legal strategies to lower one's legal tax liability. For example, strategically using deductions and tax credits to lower the amount of money you are legally obliged to pay, is an example of tax avoidance, assuming you actually pay your tax bill, whatever it ends up being.

Penalties for Tax Evasion in Bluefield, West Virginia

Under the laws of West Virginia, as well as federal law, tax evasion is a very significant criminal offense.

Tax evaders in Bluefield can be punished by multi-year prison sentences, as well as six-figure fines. Of course, there is a wide range of penalties available, with the ones just mentioned representing the most severe options available.

However, the punishments for tax evasion, particularly first offenses involving relatively small amounts of money, is not typically so severe, particularly when it looks like the failure to pay taxes was the result of an honest mistake, rather than deliberate fraud.

On the other hand, if the prosecution can establish that a Bluefield, West Virginia taxpayer engaged in fraud, and knowingly failed to pay their taxes, a tax court will probably impose the most grave punishment that's permitted by law. This can easily involve jail time.

A Bluefield, West Virginia Tax Evasion Lawyer Can Help

Tax lawyers in Bluefield, West Virginia can help anyone from an individual to a big business pay their taxes more quickly, and adhere with federal and local tax laws.

However, if you're truly accused of tax evasion, you will need a Bluefield, West Virginia tax attorney more than ever. If you are, in fact, innocent, a tax attorney can give you the best possible chance of being found not guilty.